Two Worlds: LGBT Rights in the Caribbean Versus America
Progress and Setbacks
Disclaimer: Real names have not been used in the following content.
The Cousin Whose Light Still Shines
You probably think you know where this story about my cousin Kevin is headed. Gay kid grows up in a conservative culture that shuns him, faces discrimination, rescued by a few good-natured people. But stick with me, because the data here tells a counterintuitive tale.
From the time Kevin was little, he gravitated toward “feminine” pursuits like playing make-believe with the girls instead of ramming dirt bikes with the boys.
For every vaguely annoyed sideways glance he got, there was at least one person who just accepted him for who he was — like me, his beloved cousin. I was too young to understand sexuality, but I knew Kevin’s gentle spirit was special.
Fast forward to our teen years. The uncomfortable whispers started — “Kevin’s not right,” puffed out one aunt with a curled lip. Turns out sexuality is one of the most divisive fault lines in traditional cultures like ours, right up there with race and religion.
Just as minority groups unfortunately face higher poverty rates, LGBTQ people encounter stratospheric levels of discrimination…
